Simple, good ideas that work..

[Chris Cram]

Hey,
Great minds must think alike. I also discovered this some years back and for scientific purposes I experimented with a wide variety of other brewed and fermented beverages and discovered that the only improvement to be made was to add good friends. Those of the Cape Dory variety work the best.
Cheers,
Chris
"Hesperus"
CD 30 C

p.s. I just "gulp" asked the yard to pull it out for the season. oh well "time and tide......."
http://www.geocities.com/cccobx

I stumbled over this a few years ago. First set your anchor securely. Then take a tumbler (or a paper cup) put a bit of ice in it, pour in a healthy jigger of good gin, top off with tonic, garnish with a slice (or wedge) of lime. Use any kitchen implement to stir, just a bit.
It's simple. It's good. It works for me.
Mitchell Bober
RESPITE
CD330

cccobx@prodigy.net

[Russ Campbell]

Here's an idea for covering the portholes. I find when it rains the splash finds it way the portholes and thus you have to close them. This is tough when its hot out. So I cut up plastic "For Sale" signs in half and use clothspins to attach them to the portholes. This makes a small shade which keeps the rain out and lets the window stay open.

Russ



camroll@together.net

[Ken Coit]

Great Thread Larry!

Best idea I have implemented on Parfait so far, I stole from Sixpence, nee Alez, before she was sold. I'm not sure where the credit should be given, to Bob Chamberlain or Bob Pence. The companionway ladder is naturally hinged with the two pins. However, it won't swing all the way up without grinding the upper edge of the tubing down to clear the base of each bracket. Having done that, all one needs is a hook on a chain, hanging from the overhead (one of the battens happens to be handy) and an eye under the appropriate step. Then, you can raise the ladder, hook it up, and remove the engine cover. Set the ladder back down again and you can climb out the companionway. This can be a head banger, but it saves having a ladder loose in the cabin. Now, if someone has a handy way to deal with the engine cover, I'd like to hear it.



parfait@nc.rr.com

[Neil Gordon]

>>I use "WINTERIZED" windshield washer fluid to winterize everything in my boat, ...<<

Is that stuff non-toxic? What's the fine for pumping it overboard in the spring?


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



neil@nrgordon.com

[Dan VanWinkle]

Changing oil/fuel filters on Yanmar 10GM in CD 25D- here's what I do to avoid the inevitable mess. I probably saw this on this great board at an earlier date- place open plastice bag (I use supermarket bags) under the filter while loosening and then drop old filter in bag when it emerges. Do all work over open bag. Then dispose of bag and filter. Still have paper towels handy though.
CD25D Bali Ha'i

Great Thread Larry!

Best idea I have implemented on Parfait so far, I stole from Sixpence, nee Alez, before she was sold. I'm not sure where the credit should be given, to Bob Chamberlain or Bob Pence. The companionway ladder is naturally hinged with the two pins. However, it won't swing all the way up without grinding the upper edge of the tubing down to clear the base of each bracket. Having done that, all one needs is a hook on a chain, hanging from the overhead (one of the battens happens to be handy) and an eye under the appropriate step. Then, you can raise the ladder, hook it up, and remove the engine cover. Set the ladder back down again and you can climb out the companionway. This can be a head banger, but it saves having a ladder loose in the cabin. Now, if someone has a handy way to deal with the engine cover, I'd like to hear it.

dwinvan@aol.com

[Dan VanWinkle]

Changing oil/fuel filters on Yanmar 10GM in CD 25D- here's what I do to avoid the inevitable mess. I probably saw this on this great board at an earlier date- place open plastice bag (I use supermarket bags) under the filter while loosening and then drop old filter in bag when it emerges. Do all work over open bag. Then dispose of bag and filter. Still have paper towels handy though.
CD25D Bali Ha'i

Great Thread Larry!

Best idea I have implemented on Parfait so far, I stole from Sixpence, nee Alez, before she was sold. I'm not sure where the credit should be given, to Bob Chamberlain or Bob Pence. The companionway ladder is naturally hinged with the two pins. However, it won't swing all the way up without grinding the upper edge of the tubing down to clear the base of each bracket. Having done that, all one needs is a hook on a chain, hanging from the overhead (one of the battens happens to be handy) and an eye under the appropriate step. Then, you can raise the ladder, hook it up, and remove the engine cover. Set the ladder back down again and you can climb out the companionway. This can be a head banger, but it saves having a ladder loose in the cabin. Now, if someone has a handy way to deal with the engine cover, I'd like to hear it.

dwinvan@aol.com

[Bill]

I have a very similiar setup on my 25D....It works great, although one does need to be attentive (sp) to the head banger.....

Bill

Great Thread Larry!

Best idea I have implemented on Parfait so far, I stole from Sixpence, nee Alez, before she was sold. I'm not sure where the credit should be given, to Bob Chamberlain or Bob Pence. The companionway ladder is naturally hinged with the two pins. However, it won't swing all the way up without grinding the upper edge of the tubing down to clear the base of each bracket. Having done that, all one needs is a hook on a chain, hanging from the overhead (one of the battens happens to be handy) and an eye under the appropriate step. Then, you can raise the ladder, hook it up, and remove the engine cover. Set the ladder back down again and you can climb out the companionway. This can be a head banger, but it saves having a ladder loose in the cabin. Now, if someone has a handy way to deal with the engine cover, I'd like to hear it.

cd25d@rhapsodysails.com

[Larry DeMers]

I hate responding to my own request for ideas, but I had another one that might be helpful to someone on a CD30.

We forever were trying out different garbage bins on our boat. We tried the dry bin, but that took away a good 'dry' bin, which we do use. So I came up with the idea of using the space behind the companionway ladder..between the steps and the engine. I bought a small plastic trash can, about 16 in. tall, and perhaps 8 in. wide and 5 in. deep. Using two sheet metal screw with shoulder washers, I mounted this trash can on the inside of the engine compartment, against the back of the steps..as high as possible, and centered betweenthe two upper wood blocks that sometimes hold the steps in place. We line this trash basket with a 3 gallon trash bag, and it works great. We never accumulate that much stuff inthe trash can such that there is any smell to it (it disappears into the dinghy <alias garbage scow> when full).
Problem solved. This idea has worked for about 8 years now.

Cheers!

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer

Hi all!

I love little ideas that make jobs easier for us CD owners. I stumbled on this one last weekend, while changing the engine oil. I use a vacuum pump to suck out the oil from the engine via the dipsick tube. This is a fairly standard practice. Replacement of the oil seems to be the most irritating of the jobs involved in getting the job done. Up til now, I have been placing a hose in the oil filler hole, and pouring oil into a funnel, attached to the hose. Trouble is that the flow is slow, the funnel wanders, and oil is spilled almost everytime.

This time however, I placed the funnel close to the sliding doors under the companionway, and rotated the funnel until the little tab with the hole in it protrudes through the sliding door, and put a screw through the hole in the tab...on the back side of the sliding door.

This effectively holds the funnel tight against the sliding door, allowing you to use your free hand for wiping up the darn oil!

As I said..small stuff, but try it next time you change the oil, and see if it doesn't make the job a tad less of a task.

Now it's your turn to throw out a simple practice that makes working on our CD's less difficult.

Cheers!

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 ~~~'On the hard' on Lake Superior~~~;^(

demers@sgi.com

[eric]

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want wiper fluid in my water tanks. What's wrong with the non-toxic antifreeze?

ew

I like simple Ideas that save $$$$$. I use "WINTERIZED" windshield washer fluid to winterize everything in my boat, and my home swimming pool.. 99 cents a gallon, and its good down to 25 below. Just make sure it says "Winterized". One year I didn't pay attention to that and learned that there is such a thing as SUMMER windshield washer fluid!

Dennis Truett
CD26D
SummerWind

[Serge Zimberoff]

Admittedly there is very little privacy on many boats when responding to the call of nature. On a Typhoon, the location provided for the port-a-potty requires either total cooperation from the rest of the crew, or placing the hatch boards back in. What we did was to put the grabber side of velcro on the inside of the cabin hatch, just around the corner inside of the hatch board slot. Then a piece cloth with a very soft texture was obtained and cut to the wedge shape of the opening. Now one can easily just press this fabric against the velcro from the inside and you have privacy complete with an open skylight. The nap of the fabric gradually raises and it works even better with time.



serge@srtrop.com

[sloopjohnl]

do the same thing with velcro (hook) and extend the sides up onto the overhead, sew some plastic screening onto the other velcro (loop) and voila you have yourself a handy bugscreen for overnighting or napping!

Admittedly there is very little privacy on many boats when responding to the call of nature. On a Typhoon, the location provided for the port-a-potty requires either total cooperation from the rest of the crew, or placing the hatch boards back in. What we did was to put the grabber side of velcro on the inside of the cabin hatch, just around the corner inside of the hatch board slot. Then a piece cloth with a very soft texture was obtained and cut to the wedge shape of the opening. Now one can easily just press this fabric against the velcro from the inside and you have privacy complete with an open skylight. The nap of the fabric gradually raises and it works even better with time.

[dennit truett]

We don't drink the water in our holding tanks... only bottled water. Theres a big difference in price between what I use and the non- toxic stuff... for the same result. To each his own!

I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want wiper fluid in my water tanks. What's wrong with the non-toxic antifreeze?

ew

I like simple Ideas that save $$$$$. I use "WINTERIZED" windshield washer fluid to winterize everything in my boat, and my home swimming pool.. 99 cents a gallon, and its good down to 25 below. Just make sure it says "Winterized". One year I didn't pay attention to that and learned that there is such a thing as SUMMER windshield washer fluid!

Dennis Truett
CD26D
SummerWind

[John R.]

On our 30 I installed a (non - labeled) bronze deckfill fitting inside the aft galley cabinet basically located right above the oil fill cap on the engine (Volvo MD7B V-drive configuration). I use a flex neck funnel that I simply run down through the deck fill opening and straight into the the engine oil fill. That setup makes adding oil an absolute breeze. No hoses, no pumps ........nothing but a funnel.

Hi all!

I love little ideas that make jobs easier for us CD owners. I stumbled on this one last weekend, while changing the engine oil. I use a vacuum pump to suck out the oil from the engine via the dipsick tube. This is a fairly standard practice. Replacement of the oil seems to be the most irritating of the jobs involved in getting the job done. Up til now, I have been placing a hose in the oil filler hole, and pouring oil into a funnel, attached to the hose. Trouble is that the flow is slow, the funnel wanders, and oil is spilled almost everytime.

This time however, I placed the funnel close to the sliding doors under the companionway, and rotated the funnel until the little tab with the hole in it protrudes through the sliding door, and put a screw through the hole in the tab...on the back side of the sliding door.

This effectively holds the funnel tight against the sliding door, allowing you to use your free hand for wiping up the darn oil!

As I said..small stuff, but try it next time you change the oil, and see if it doesn't make the job a tad less of a task.

Now it's your turn to throw out a simple practice that makes working on our CD's less difficult.

Cheers!

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 ~~~'On the hard' on Lake Superior~~~;^(

[Larry DeMers]

Superior Idea! Why is it that the simplest solution is almost always; a) The Best Idea
b) The last idea that one encounters??

I don't know..but it sure seems true for me. I think I would be tempted to use a nylon access port..6 inch diameter so that a funnel will sit in the access hole, supported by the sides. The added benefit would be a flatter surface when the access hole is screwed closed, making stuff in the cabinet sit flat. I wonder how much heat accumulates on that top wood surface? Wonder if it would exceed the working range of nylon filled plastic? Might be worth a bit of testing next year.

Thanks for a better idea!
Ever notice how one idea can bring up a whole thread of ideas in the same vein?

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30

On our 30 I installed a (non - labeled) bronze deckfill fitting inside the aft galley cabinet basically located right above the oil fill cap on the engine (Volvo MD7B V-drive configuration). I use a flex neck funnel that I simply run down through the deck fill opening and straight into the the engine oil fill. That setup makes adding oil an absolute breeze. No hoses, no pumps ........nothing but a funnel.

Hi all!

I love little ideas that make jobs easier for us CD owners. I stumbled on this one last weekend, while changing the engine oil. I use a vacuum pump to suck out the oil from the engine via the dipsick tube. This is a fairly standard practice. Replacement of the oil seems to be the most irritating of the jobs involved in getting the job done. Up til now, I have been placing a hose in the oil filler hole, and pouring oil into a funnel, attached to the hose. Trouble is that the flow is slow, the funnel wanders, and oil is spilled almost everytime.

This time however, I placed the funnel close to the sliding doors under the companionway, and rotated the funnel until the little tab with the hole in it protrudes through the sliding door, and put a screw through the hole in the tab...on the back side of the sliding door.

This effectively holds the funnel tight against the sliding door, allowing you to use your free hand for wiping up the darn oil!

As I said..small stuff, but try it next time you change the oil, and see if it doesn't make the job a tad less of a task.

Now it's your turn to throw out a simple practice that makes working on our CD's less difficult.

Cheers!

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 ~~~'On the hard' on Lake Superior~~~;^(

demers@sgi.com